Forwarding un-responded to instant messages to electronic mail

ABSTRACT

A method of forwarding an instant message to electronic mail can begin with determining availability of an instant messaging client for a recipient. The method can continue with sending the instant message to the instant messaging client for the recipient. The method can include not receiving a reply to the instant message within a pre-defined period of time. The method can further include sending an electronic mail message including the instant message to the recipient upon reaching the pre-defined period of time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Instant messaging enables real-time, two-way, electronic communicationover a network, such as the Internet, between two or more users.Typically, users of instant messaging clients log on to a messagingserver, thereby establishing presence with the messaging server. A firstuser of an instant messaging client may choose to contact a second userof another instant messaging client by choosing the second user from acontact list. Usually, the contact list will indicate availability ofthe second user. The first user may type and send an initial message tothe second user. Such an initial message may be a salutation such as“Hi.” Upon receiving the initial message, the second user can type andsend a response, which may also be a salutation such as “Hi.”

The first and second user may proceed to have an electronic conversationor chat in what may be referred to as a messaging session. Typically,the messaging session ends with one of the users sending a closing suchas “bye” to the other.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to forwarding an instant messageto electronic mail. One embodiment of the present invention can includea computer-implemented method of forwarding an instant message toelectronic mail. The method can include determining availability of aninstant messaging client for a recipient and sending the instant messageto the instant messaging client for the recipient. The method caninclude not receiving a reply to the instant message within apre-defined period of time. A determination can be made that content ofthe instant message satisfies a criterion for forwarding the instantmessage by electronic mail. The method can further include sending anelectronic mail message including the instant message to the recipientupon reaching the pre-defined period of time.

Another embodiment of the present invention can include a computerimplemented method of forwarding an instant message to electronic mail.The method can include determining availability of an instant messagingclient for a recipient and sending the instant message to the instantmessaging client for the recipient. The method can include not receivinga reply to the instant message within a pre-defined period of time. Adetermination can be made that the instant message satisfies a criterionfor forwarding the instant message by electronic mail. A criteria can bedetermined by performing an analysis of a text within the instantmessage. An electronic mail message including the instant message can besent to the recipient upon reaching the pre-defined period of time.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention can include a computerprogram product including a computer-usable medium havingcomputer-usable program code that, when executed, causes a machine toperform the various steps and/or functions described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for forwarding instantmessages to electronic mail in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method of forwarding instantmessages to electronic mail in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is another flow chart illustrating a method of forwarding instantmessages to electronic mail in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present inventionmay be embodied as a method, system, or computer program product.Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirelyhardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, includingfirmware, resident software, micro-code, etc., or an embodimentcombining software and hardware aspects that may all generally bereferred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” or “system.”

Furthermore, the invention may take the form of a computer programproduct accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable mediumproviding program code for use by, or in connection with, a computer orany instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description,a computer-usable or computer-readable medium can be any apparatus thatcan contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program foruse by, or in connection with, the instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

Any suitable computer-usable or computer-readable medium may beutilized. For example, the medium can include, but is not limited to, anelectronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, orsemiconductor system (or apparatus or device), or a propagation medium.A non-exhaustive list of exemplary computer-readable media can includean electrical connection having one or more wires, an optical fiber,magnetic storage devices such as magnetic tape, a removable computerdiskette, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a rigid magneticdisk, a magneto-optical disk, an optical storage medium, such as anoptical disk including a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), acompact disk-read/write (CD-R/W), or a DVD, or a semiconductor or solidstate memory including, but not limited to, a random access memory(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), or an erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EPROM or Flash memory).

A computer-usable or computer-readable medium further can include atransmission media such as those supporting the Internet or an intranet.The computer-usable program code may be transmitted using anyappropriate medium, including but not limited to the Internet, wireline,optical fiber, cable, RF, etc.

In another aspect, the computer-usable or computer-readable medium canbe paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed,as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance,optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled,interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary,and then stored in a computer memory.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the presentinvention may be written in an object oriented programming language suchas Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like. However, the computer program codefor carrying out operations of the present invention may also be writtenin conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The program codemay execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user'scomputer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user'scomputer and partly on a remote computer, or entirely on the remotecomputer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may beconnected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectlyto memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can includelocal memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulkstorage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at leastsome program code in order to reduce the number of times code must beretrieved from bulk storage during execution.

Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards,displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system eitherdirectly or through intervening I/O controllers. Network adapters mayalso be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system tobecome coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers orstorage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems,cable modems, and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currentlyavailable types of network adapters.

The present invention is described below with reference to flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), andcomputer program products according to embodiments of the invention. Itwill be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/orblock diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computerprogram instructions. These computer program instructions may beprovided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purposecomputer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce amachine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor ofthe computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, createmeans for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchartand/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an instant messaging (IM) system100 that forwards an instant message to electronic mail according to oneembodiment of the present invention. The messaging system 100 caninclude instant messaging clients 105 and 110, and a messaging server115, e.g., an instant messaging server. The instant messaging clients105 and 110 can be, for example, computers, mobile communicationdevices, such as mobile telephones or personal data assistants (PDAs),network appliances, gaming consoles, or any other device which canparticipate in an instant messaging session.

The various components of the messaging system 100 can becommunicatively linked by a communication network 120. The communicationnetwork 120 can include, for example, a WAN, a LAN, the public switchedtelephone network, the Web, the Internet, and/or one or more intranets.The communication network 120 also can include one or more wirelessnetworks, whether short or long range.

Each of the messaging clients 105 and 110 can include a respective userinterface 125 and 130. Users of the messaging clients 105 and 110 canlog on to the messaging server 115 via the user interfaces 125 and 130.Upon logging on to the messaging server 115, availability or presence ofthe messaging clients 105 and 110 may be indicated to other messagingclients. For example, if both of the messaging clients 105 and 110 arelogged on to the messaging server 115, each messaging client 105 and 110can determine the availability of the other via the messaging server115.

The availability can be indicated to users of the messaging clients 105and 110 via the respective user interfaces 125 and 130. While theavailability of a messaging client 105 or 110 may be indicated to othermessaging clients, the availability does not necessarily mean that theuser of the messaging client 105 or 110 is available. For example, theuser may be busy working on a project that cannot be interrupted, may beinvolved in a meeting despite being at a computer, or may be away fromhis or her computer.

In operation, the user of the messaging client 105 can initiate aninstant messaging session with the user of the messaging client 110 byselecting the user of the instant messaging client 110 from a contactlist in the user interface 125, typing an instant message in anappropriate window of the user interface 125, and sending the message tothe messaging client 110. Such an initial message may be a salutationsuch as, “Hi,” a recipient user's name, or an opening question such as“Are you there?” For the initial message, the user of the messagingclient 105 may be referred to as a sender and the user of the messagingclient 110 may be referred to as a recipient. By employing a salutationas an initial message, the sender may give the recipient an opportunityto ignore the initial message if the recipient does not want to engagein a messaging session at that time.

In one embodiment, the messaging clients 105 and 110 can act as peerssending messages to the other. For example, the messaging client 105 cansend the initial message to the messaging client 110 without involvingthe messaging server 115. In another embodiment, the messaging server115 can receive messages from a sending messaging client 105 or 110 andforward the messages to a recipient messaging client 110 or 105. Forexample, the messaging client 105 can send the initial message to themessaging server 115. The messaging server 115 can forward the initialmessage to the messaging client 110.

The user of the messaging client 110 may choose to engage in a messagingsession with the user of the messaging client 105 by replying to theinitial message sent by the messaging client 105. The user of themessaging client 110 may do so by sending a reply that is also asalutation such as “Hi.” Here, the user of the messaging client 110becomes the sender and the user of the messaging client 105 becomes therecipient. Upon receiving the reply from the user of the messagingclient 110, the user of the messaging client 105 may then type and senda substantive communication to the user of the messaging client 110. Forexample, such a substantive communication may be a work related inquiry,a social invitation, or some other substantive communication. The usersof the messaging clients 105 and 110 may proceed through a series ofmessages where each message is a reply to a previous message. As amessaging session proceeds, the messaging clients 105 and 110 each canmaintain an instant message transcript that can include a series ofmessages and replies that begin with the initial message.

According to one embodiment, the messaging client 105 can start a timer140 upon sending an instant message 145 to the messaging client 110. Ifthe timer 140 reaches a pre-defined period of time and the messagingclient 105 has not received a reply to the instant message 145, themessaging client 105 can forward the instant message 145 to themessaging client 110 in an electronic mail message 150. According tothis embodiment, the messaging client 105 can send instant messages tothe messaging client 110 directly or can send the instant messages tothe messaging server 115, which can then forward the instant messages tothe messaging client 110.

For example, as a messaging session proceeds between the users of themessaging clients 105 and 110, the user of the messaging client 110might not reply to the instant message 145 sent by the messaging client105 before the timer 140 reaches the pre-defined period of time. It maybe that the user of the messaging client 110 has become engaged in someother activity such as an impromptu meeting with a colleague or has lefthis or her desk, possibly going home for the day. Despite the non-replyfrom the user of the messaging client 110, the messaging client 105 maycontinue to indicate availability of the messaging client 110. Upon thetimer 140 reaching the pre-defined period of time, the messaging client105 can forward the instant message 145 within the electronic mailmessage 150 to the user of the messaging client 110.

According to another embodiment where the messaging server 115 forwardsinstant messages between the messaging clients 105 and 110, themessaging server 115 can start a timer 155 upon sending an instantmessage 160 to the messaging client 110 on behalf of the messagingclient 105. If the timer 155 reaches the pre-defined period of time andthe messaging server 115 has not received a reply to the instant message160, the messaging server 115 can forward the instant message 160 to theuser of the messaging client 110 within an electronic mail message 165.The entire instant message, the content of the instant message, or anyportion of the instant message may be included within an electronic mailand forwarded to the recipient.

In one embodiment, each messaging client 105 and 110 can include bothinstant messaging and electronic mail functionality. In anotherembodiment, the messaging clients may not support electronic mail, butmay communicate cooperatively with an electronic mail system, e.g.,electronic mail clients and/or servers (not shown). Accordingly, themessaging clients 105 and 110, as well as the messaging server 115, cancause, or initiate, the sending of the electronic mail including theinstant message via the electronic mail system to an electronic mailclient of the recipient.

The pre-defined period of time can be selected by a user or can be adefault value. For example, the messaging client 105 or the messagingserver 115 can include a default value for the pre-defined period oftime of 15 minutes. If the messaging client 105 or the messaging server115 allows the user to select the pre-defined period of time, the usermay choose to replace the default value with a user-selected value. Forexample, a user may replace a default value with a user selected valueof 5 minutes.

The messaging client 105 or the messaging server 115 may obtain anelectronic mail address for the user of the messaging client 110 from anelectronic mail directory. For example, such an electronic maildirectory may be internal to the messaging client 105, internal to themessaging server 115, or located elsewhere such as within a LightweightDirectory Access Protocol (LDAP) server or as part of an electronic mailclient or server for the user of the messaging client 105.

The electronic mail message 150 or 165 can include the instant messagetranscript for the messaging session. For example, the electronic mailmessage 150 or 165 can present the instant message for which a reply wasnot received as a most recent message in the instant message transcript.The electronic mail message 150 or 165 also can include the day and thetime that the instant message was sent and a notice that a sender of theinstant message did not receive a reply within the pre-defined period oftime. For example, the electronic mail message 150 or 165 may identifythat the electronic mail message 150 or 165 is automatically forwardingan instant message transcript for a messaging session where a reply to amost recent message sent on a particular day and at a particular time(e.g. Thursday at 2:30 p.m. EDT) was not received within a period oftime (e.g. a period of 5 minutes).

According to one embodiment, the messaging client 105 or the messagingserver 115 can forward the instant message 145 or 160 upon the timer 140or 155 reaching the pre-defined period of time regardless of the contentof the instant message 145 or 160. According to another embodiment, themessaging client 105 or the messaging server 115 can determine that thecontent of the instant message 145 or 160 satisfies a criterion forforwarding the instant message by electronic mail before sending theelectronic mail message 150 or 165. Such a determination may be madeprior to the pre-defined period of time expiring.

In another embodiment, the criterion for forwarding the instant messageby electronic mail may be that the instant message is found to not be asalutation message. A salutation message may be a message that presentsa salutation only. In contrast, a message that includes a salutationpreceding a substantive communication may be more aptly characterized asa substantive communication rather than a salutation message.

For example, a textual analysis may be performed on the instant messageto determine whether the instant message matches or substantiallymatches a salutation message found on a list of salutation messages. Thelist may include standard salutation messages such as, “Hi,” “Are youthere?” or “<a recipient's name>,” as well as salutation messages addedby a user such as “ru there?” If the instant message matches orsubstantially matches a salutation message found on the list ofsalutation messages, the instant message need not be forwarded in anelectronic mail message.

In another embodiment, the criterion for forwarding the instant messageby electronic mail may be that the instant message is found to not be aclosing message. A closing message may be a message that presents aclosing only. In contrast, a message that ends with a closing expressionthat follows a substantive communication may be more aptly characterizedas a substantive communication rather than a closing message.

For example, a textual analysis may be performed on the instant messageto determine whether it matches or substantially matches a closingmessage found on a list of closing messages. The list may includestandard closing messages such as, “Bye,” “See you later,” or “See youthere,” as well as user-defined closing messages such as “l8r.” If theinstant message matches or substantially matches a closing message foundon the list of closing messages, the instant message need not beforwarded in an electronic mail message.

It should be appreciated that the content of the instant message may beevaluated using any of a variety of known techniques. Such techniquescan include, but are not limited to, natural language understanding, theuse of grammars, keyword searching, or the like. These content analysistechniques can be applied to determine information including, forexample, salutations and/or closings within instant messages.

According to one embodiment, the messaging client 105 or the messagingserver 115 can forward the instant message 145 or 160 by electronic mailupon the timer 140 or 155 reaching the pre-defined period of time. Asused herein, “upon the timer reaching the pre-defined period of time”may mean “when the timer reaches the pre-defined period of time” or“after the timer reaches the pre-defined period of time.”

According to another embodiment, the messaging client 105 or themessaging server 115 can query a user of the messaging client 105 forapproval to forward the instant message 145 or 160 by electronic mailupon the timer 140 or 155 reaching the pre-defined period of time. Themessaging client 105 or the messaging server 115 can then forward theinstant message 145 or 160 by electronic mail upon receiving approval.

The messaging client 105 or the messaging server 115 may maintain ado-not-forward list that identifies messaging clients for whichun-responded messages need not be forwarded by electronic mail. Such alist may be defined by a sender or a receiver. If a sender adds amessaging client for a particular user to a sender-defineddo-not-forward list, un-responded to messages sent by the sender to theparticular user need not be forwarded by electronic mail. If a receiveradds his or her messaging client to a receiver-defined do-not-forwardlist, un-responded to messages from any messaging client to the receiverneed not be forwarded by electronic mail.

The messaging client 105 or the messaging server 115 may maintain analways forward list. If a messaging client for a particular user isfound on the always forward list and the particular user does notrespond to a most recent message before the pre-defined period of timeexpires, the messaging client 105 or the messaging server 115 canforward the instant message transcript to the messaging client for therecipient without querying the user of the messaging client 105 todetermine if the instant message 145 or 160 should be forwarded by theelectronic mail message 150 or 165.

As a messaging session proceeds between the users of the messagingclients 105 and 110, the messaging client 110 may become unavailable.According to one embodiment, the user of the messaging client 105 may beprecluded from sending an instant message to the messaging client 110while the messaging client 110 indicates an unavailable status.According to this embodiment, if the user of the messaging client 105attempts to send an instant message to the messaging client 110 whilethe messaging client 110 remains unavailable, the messaging client 105or the messaging server 115 can send the instant message as anelectronic mail message.

According to another embodiment, the user of the messaging client 105may be allowed to attempt to send an instant message to the messagingclient 110 while the messaging client 110 remains unavailable. Accordingto this embodiment, the message may be queued at the messaging client105 or the messaging server 115 for delivery to the messaging client 110upon the messaging client 110 indicating an available status. Here, themessaging client 105 or the messaging server 115 can also forward themessage by electronic mail. The messaging client 105 or the messagingserver 115 can send the electronic mail message upon queuing of themessage for delivery or can wait for the pre-defined period of time toexpire before sending the electronic mail message.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method 200 of forwarding aninstant message to electronic mail according to another embodiment ofthe present invention. The method 200 can begin in a state where thesender and recipient have established presence with the messaging servervia each user's respective messaging client. The method 200 can beginwith determining availability of an instant messaging client for arecipient in step 205. In step 210, an instant message can be sent tothe recipient thereby establishing a messaging session.

In step 215, a determination can be made as to whether a reply to theinstant message has been received within a pre-defined period of time.If a reply has been received, the method can return to step 205. If areply has not been received, an electronic mail message that includesthe instant message can be sent to the recipient in step 220. In anotherembodiment, the electronic mail message further can include an instantmessage transcript for the messaging session where the instant messageforms a most recent message of a series of messages exchanged betweenthe sender of the instant message and the recipient.

The method 200 may provide assurance to a sender of the instant messagein that, if the recipient does not reply within the pre-defined periodof time, the instant message may be forwarded by electronic mail. Themethod 200 may also help to reduce information overload for therecipient in that only instant messages for which a reply has not beenreceived may be forwarded by electronic mail. The recipient mayappreciate receiving such instant messages by electronic mail knowingthat the messages are those that the recipient was not able to respondto within the pre-defined period of time.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method 300 of forwarding aninstant message to electronic mail according to another embodiment ofthe present invention. The method 300 can begin with determiningavailability of an instant messaging client for a recipient in step 305.In another embodiment, determining availability of the instant messagingclient may be performed by a messaging server recognizing that theinstant messaging client for the recipient is logged on to the messagingserver. In another embodiment, determining availability of the instantmessaging client may be performed by an instant messaging client for asender receiving a notice of the availability from the instant messagingserver or receiving a notice of availability from the instant messagingclient for the recipient.

In step 310, an instant message can be sent to the recipient. As noted,the instant messaging client for the sender can send the message to theinstant messaging client for the recipient or can send the instantmessage to the instant messaging server, which can then forward theinstant message to the instant messaging client for the recipient. Theinstant message may be an initial message sent to the recipient or theinstant message may be a most recent instant message of an instantmessaging session that includes a series of messages and repliesexchanged between the sender and the recipient.

In step 315, a determination can be made as to whether a reply to theinstant message has been received within a pre-defined period of time.In one embodiment, the pre-defined period of time may be a defaultperiod of time. For example, the messaging client for the sender mayinclude a default period of time of 15 minutes. In another embodiment,the pre-defined period of time may be a user selected period of time.For example, a user may adjust a default period of time for a messagingclient to a period of time of 5 minutes.

In one embodiment, the messaging client that sent the instant messagecan measure a time from sending the instant message to determine whethera reply to the instant message has been received within the pre-definedperiod of time. In another embodiment, for example, where the messagingserver forwards messages between the messaging clients, the messagingserver can measure the time from sending the instant message todetermine whether a reply to the instant message has been receivedwithin the pre-defined period of time. If a reply is received within thepre-defined period of time, the method can return to step 305. If areply is not been received within the pre-defined period of time, themethod can continue to step 320.

In step 320, a determination can be made as to whether the instantmessage is a salutation message. The instant message may be a salutationmessage if the instant message matches or substantially matches asalutation message found on a list of salutation messages. The list mayinclude standard salutation messages such as, “Hi,” “Are you there?” or“<a recipient's name>,” as well as salutation messages added by a usersuch as “ru there?” If the instant message is determined to be asalutation message, the method can return to step 305. By not forwardinginstant messages that are found to be salutation messages, informationoverload for the recipient may be further reduced by not cluttering therecipient's electronic mail inbox with the salutation messages. Also,the sender may be assured that, if he or she sends a salutation message,it may not contribute to information overload for the recipient. If themessage is not determined to be a salutation message, the method cancontinue to step 325.

In step 325, a determination can be made as to whether the instantmessage is a closing message. The instant message may be a closingmessage if the instant message matches or substantially matches aclosing message found on a list of closing messages. The list mayinclude standard closing messages such as, “Bye,” “See you later,” or“See you there,” as well as user-defined closing messages such as “l8r.”If the instant message is determined to be a closing message, the methodcan return to step 305. By not forwarding instant messages that arefound to be closing messages, information overload for the recipient maybe further reduced by not cluttering the recipient's electronic mailinbox with the closing messages. Also, the sender may be assured that,if he or she sends a closing message, it may not contribute toinformation overload for the recipient. If the instant message isdetermined not to be a closing message, the method can continue to step330.

In step 330, the user that sent the instant message to which no responsewas found may be optionally queried by the messaging client or themessaging server as to whether to forward the instant message byelectronic mail. In another embodiment, step 330 may include queryingthe user that sent the instant message whether to forward an instantmessage transcript of the messaging session by electronic mail. Theinstant message transcript can include the instant message as a mostrecent instant message in a series of messages and replies that form amessaging session between the sender and the recipient of the instantmessage.

In step 335, a determination can be made as to whether the user chose toforward the instant message or the instant message transcript byelectronic mail. If the user chose not to forward the instant message orthe instant message transcript by electronic mail, the method can returnto step 305. If the user chose to forward the instant message or theinstant transcript by electronic mail, the method can continue to step340. In step 340, the instant message or the instant message transcriptcan be forwarded to the recipient in an electronic mail message. Theelectronic mail message can include a time and date of sending theinstant message to the recipient and a notice that the messaging clientfor the sender did not receive a reply within the pre-defined period oftime.

At some point in a messaging session, a user may no longer have presenceon the messaging server. For example, the recipient may shut down his orher messaging client. Thus, it may be that a messaging client for asender or a messaging server may sense unavailability of the messagingclient for the recipient. In such a situation the sender may attempt tosend an instant message to the recipient. If the instant messagingclient does not allow messages to be sent to instant messaging clientsthat are not available, the instant message may be immediately andautomatically forwarded to the recipient in an electronic mail message.

In some situations, a messaging client may be allowed to attempt to sendan instant message to a messaging client for a recipient that is notavailable. For example, the instant message may be queued at themessaging client for the sender or may be queued at a messaging serverin anticipation of the messaging client for the recipient becomingavailable. If the instant messaging client allows messages to be sent toan instant messaging client that is unavailable, e.g., has no presence,the instant message may be sent in anticipation of the instant messagingclient for the recipient becoming available. In such a situation, theinstant messaging client or the instant messaging server may forward theinstant message in an electronic mail message if a reply to the instantmessage is not received within the pre-defined period of time.

The flowchart(s) and block diagram(s) in the figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart(s) or block diagram(s) may represent a module, segment, orportion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblocks may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagram(s) and/or flowchartillustration(s), and combinations of blocks in the block diagram(s)and/or flowchart illustration(s), can be implemented by special purposehardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, orcombinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

Having thus described the invention of the present application in detailand by reference to the embodiments thereof, it will be apparent thatmodifications and variations are possible without departing from thescope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method of forwarding aninstant message to electronic mail, the method comprising: determiningavailability of an instant messaging client for a recipient; sending theinstant message to the instant messaging client for the recipient; notreceiving a reply to the instant message within a pre-defined period oftime; upon reaching the pre-defined period of time, determining that theinstant message is not a salutation message and thus satisfies acriterion for forwarding the instant message in an electronic mailmessage; and sending the electronic mail message comprising the instantmessage to the recipient.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein determiningthat the instant message satisfies the criterion for forwarding theinstant message in the electronic mail message further comprisesdetermining that the instant message is not a closing message.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising querying a user for an approval tosend the electronic mail message and receiving the approval.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined period of time comprises auser selectable period of time.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theelectronic mail message further comprises: a time of sending the instantmessage to the recipient; and a notice that an instant message clientfor a sender did not receive a reply within the period of time.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the electronic mail message further comprisesan instant message transcript.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: sensing unavailability of a second instant messaging clientfor a second recipient; attempting to send a second instant message tothe second instant messaging client for the second recipient; andsending a second electronic mail message to the second recipient thatcomprises the second instant message.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising determining that the recipient is not on a do-not-forwardlist.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein a sending instant messagingclient initiates sending of the electronic mail message that comprisesthe instant message.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein an instantmessaging server initiates sending of the electronic mail message thatcomprises the instant message.
 11. A computer-implemented method offorwarding an instant message to electronic mail, the method comprising:determining availability of an instant messaging client for a recipient;sending the instant message to the instant messaging client for therecipient; not receiving a reply to the instant message within apre-defined period of time; determining that the instant message is nota salutation message and thus satisfies a criterion for forwarding theinstant message in an electronic mail message, wherein the instantmessage is determined not to be a salutation message by performing ananalysis of a text within the instant message; and upon reaching thepre-defined period of time, sending the electronic mail messagecomprising the instant message to the recipient.
 12. The method of claim11, wherein determining that the instant message is not the salutationmessage comprises performing a textual analysis of the instant messageto determine that the instant message does not match a pre-definedsalutation message found on a list of salutation messages.
 13. Themethod of claim 11, wherein determining that the instant messagesatisfies the criterion for forwarding the instant message in theelectronic mail message further comprises determining that the instantmessage is not a closing message.
 14. The method of claim 13, whereindetermining that the instant message is not the closing messagecomprises performing a textual analysis of the instant message todetermine that the instant message does not match a pre-defined closingmessage found on a list of closing messages.
 15. The method of claim 11,further comprising querying a user for an approval to send theelectronic mail message and receiving the approval.
 16. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the electronic mail message further comprises aninstant message transcript.
 17. A computer program product, comprising:a computer-readable device comprising computer-usable program codestored thereon that forwards an instant message to electronic mail, thecomputer-readable device comprising: computer-usable program code thatdetermines availability of an instant messaging client for a recipient;computer-usable program code that sends the instant message to theinstant messaging client for the recipient; computer-usable program codethat determines that a reply to the instant message has not beenreceived within a pre-defined period of time; computer-usable programcode that determines that the instant message is not a salutationmessage and thus satisfies a criterion for forwarding the instantmessage in an electronic mail message; and computer-usable program codethat sends an electronic mail message comprising the instant message tothe recipient upon reaching the pre-defined period of time, wherein thecomputer-readable device is not a transitory signal per se.